Warwickshire have completed the signing of Hanuma Vihari. India’s middle-order batsman Hanuma Vihari has joined English county Warwickshire for the upcoming first-class season. The 27-year-old would most likely be a part of at least three games for the Birmingham based side.
"Yes, Vihari will be playing in the English county side for Warwickshire this season. He would play a few games. He is in England now," Sportstar quoted a senior BCCI official as saying.
As the contract is still being finalised, the official announcement from the County has not come yet. With Vohari already having left for England, it is most likely that within a day or two the announcement would be made.
An integral part of the Indian Test set-up, the Andhra batsman is looking to sharpen his skills ahead of the all-important World Test Championship and a full-fledged tour of England.
Vihari, who has scored 624 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 32.84, was last seen in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match between Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. He last international innings is hailed as one of the best fighting knocks by an Indian on foreign soil which came in Sydney where he and Ravichandran Ashwin batted on for more than 400 deliveries to draw a crucial Test match.
Vihari got injured in that very game and to gain full fitness and match practice he has decided to pursue a county stint as he was not picked by any franchise in the IPL.
"With a curtailed domestic season this time and Vihari being a part of the Test side, he needs match practice. All his other Test colleagues are part of IPL teams, including Cheteshwar (Pujara). Even if it's white-ball games, they will be fit and match-ready," the BCCI source added about Vihari.